Kael looked confused at Sonoka and asked: "What do you mean by glutton?"
Sonoka realized her words had been impolite. Her face flushed red and she quickly explained: "Not long ago, Inui-senpai said a super eater came to her restaurant and tasted every dish. Later, Dōjima-senpai also said someone came to the resort and ate through the menu several times. They compared notes and confirmed it was the same person. Everyone agreed he was a glutton. So I accidentally… I'm sorry, I'm sorry."
Mai couldn't help but tease: "Are you a bottomless pit? How can you eat so much?"
Kael laughed: "You don't understand. Eating is also a form of cultivation."
Then he turned to the blushing Sonoka. "Enough apologizing. Go cook—I'm hungry. If you really feel sorry, give me one hundred and twenty percent effort and let me taste your best."
Though Sonoka seemed timid, when it came to cooking she was full of energy. "Alright, guest. I'll cook now. I swear you'll taste the best dishes."
She patted her chest with determination. Her large figure made Kael's eyes spin. No wonder her senior Tsunozaki Taki often mocked her as… the monster with huge assets.
Sonoka realized this and fled in embarrassment.
Mai mocked: "Can't you control your gaze? You look like a creep. I wonder if the chef will call the police."
Kael glanced at her casually. "If some people had more to offer, I wouldn't look elsewhere. Right, Natori-senpai?"
"Ah, well…" Natori Shuuichi hadn't expected to be dragged in, flustered for a moment.
But as an adult, he quickly regained composure, smiling politely. "Everyone's situation is different. Big isn't always better, small doesn't mean inferior."
Kael nodded. "I see. You mean small can be cute too, right?"
I'm not, I didn't.
Natori shook his head repeatedly. "That's not what I meant. Don't twist my words."
"Shut up, you jerk." Mai's face turned red as she glared at Kael. If she didn't stop him, who knew what outrageous words he'd say next.
Seeing Mai already on edge, Kael stopped, wearing the calm smile of a victor. But that smile only provoked her further. If not for the situation, she would have smashed a plate in his face. Too infuriating.
Shuuichi grew uneasy and urged the waiter to serve quickly, afraid the two would start fighting. He hadn't expected Kael and Mai to be such bickering companions.
Soon, dishes were served one after another. Shuuichi sighed in relief, inviting them to eat, skillfully easing the tension and making them laugh with his charm.
Thus, the dinner ended in a cheerful atmosphere.
After tasting Sonoka's cooking, Kael gave a high evaluation. Perhaps she wasn't yet at Hinako's level, but not far behind. With time, she could match or even surpass her.
Sonoka humbly said: "No, I still have much to learn from Inui-senpai."
Kael smiled faintly, neither agreeing nor disagreeing.
Leaving Shunkatei, Kael bid farewell to Shuuichi and Mai. They parted ways, and Kael returned home.
The next day, as if nothing had happened, he appeared at school. His classmates were stunned. After all, Kael had skipped classes since the start of term—first a few days, then a week, then half a month. He treated school like a hotel, coming and going freely. Too free.
His deskmate, Isshiki Makoto, turned around curiously. "I have a question. Do you have some secret deal with the school?"
"Huh?" Kael asked, puzzled. "Why do you think that?"
Makoto said: "You've skipped so much, yet the school hasn't expelled you. Isn't it because of some deal?"
Kael replied: "Or maybe the school doesn't even know I skipped."
"Impossible, absolutely impossible." Makoto was shocked.
Kael smiled. He didn't tell the fool that his homeroom teacher, Mafuyu, had been completely fooled by him. So she never reported his truancy to the school administration. Thus, the higher-ups didn't know, and Kael wasn't expelled.
Even if they did find out and expelled him, Kael could hypnotize them and return. Power meant freedom. Though he wasn't evil, he didn't mind using his ability for personal gain. He wasn't that righteous. In truth, Kael was just an ordinary person. After cultivating demonic arts, his moral baseline had lowered somewhat.
At noon, Kael ate lunch on the rooftop with Saki and Marin, discussing recent events. Marin told him that during his seclusion, something strange had happened at school.
"What strange thing?" Kael asked curiously.
Marin said: "Do you remember the senior who argued with you on the rooftop?"
"The senior who argued? You mean Kasumigaoka-senpai?"
Of course Kael hadn't forgotten the senior who loved wearing black stockings.